Mary and femininity: A psychological critique
This essay uses Freud to interpret the symbolism and theology of Mary in modern Catholicism. In her role as the mother of believers, Mary functions to place the Christian in the position of a child who receives illusory gratification from the mother. In her role as model for Christians to emulate, M...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Springer Science + Business Media B. V.
[1984]
|
| In: |
Journal of religion and health
Year: 1984, Volume: 23, Issue: 3, Pages: 204-217 |
| Further subjects: | B
Feminist Perspective
B Psychological Critique B Social Structure B Psychological Maturity |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
| Summary: | This essay uses Freud to interpret the symbolism and theology of Mary in modern Catholicism. In her role as the mother of believers, Mary functions to place the Christian in the position of a child who receives illusory gratification from the mother. In her role as model for Christians to emulate, Mary functions to place the Christian in the position of receptivity and dependence which Freud associated with femininity. Reinterpreting Freud from a feminist perspective, I suggest that the kind of femininity Mary represents serves to perpetuate patriachal social structures and to inhibit full psychological maturity. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1573-6571 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of religion and health
|
| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1007/BF00990786 |